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UFC 170: Ronda Rousey stops Sara McMann in 66 seconds

MMAjunkie.com's John Morgan breaks down the main event at UFC 170, where champion Ronda Rousey defeated Sara McMann in the first round after the referee stopped the fight a bit early for some people.
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The Ultimate Fighting Championship women's bantamweight champ notched the fastest knockout in UFC women's history, and she also finally won a fight by something other than her trademark armbar. Rousey stopped Sara McMann just 66 seconds into their fight with a TKO stemming from a knee to the liver.

The women's bantamweight title bout was the main event of UFC 170 event at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Both fighters came out swinging right away, and after the dust settled, Rousey pushed the challenger to the fence and landed knees on her. Rousey looked for an opportunity for her trademark judo throw. But McMann defended it.

But soon after, Rousey hit McMann with a knee to the body. She followed it with an elbow, another knee, another elbow — and then a final knee that put McMann on the canvas.

Once there, Rousey was quick to pile on with three strikes before referee Herb Dean jumped in to stop the fight. McMann wasn't covering up.

The crowd booed what it deemed was an early stoppage. But for the first time in her career, Rousey had a non-armbar finish. The TKO win came just 66 seconds into the fight.

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"We studied her videos and knew it was the best thing to concentrate on the liver shot for this camp," Rousey said. "The knee has been working for me the most throughout sparring in this camp."

"I thought it was a good fight. I got hit in the liver, and no matter how hard you train, you can't get your liver stronger," McMann said. "I hope to get a rematch and come back here and put on a better fight. I was trying to get back up, but it's my own fault. I should've gotten back to my feet quicker."

Rousey (9-0 mixed martial arts, 3-0 UFC) stayed unbeaten and notched another first-round win, the eighth of her career. McMann (7-1, 1-1) suffered the first loss of her MMA career.

Matt Erickson writes for MMAjunkie.com, part of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group.

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Ronda Rousey made quick work of Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, retaining her bantamweight title with a first-round TKO at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. (Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports)